Door lock for automobiles



Dec. 13, 1938. J. DRzEwlEcKl DOOR LOOK FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 51, 1936 INVENTOR Dec. 13, 1938. J. DRZEWIECKI l 2,140,129

y DOOR` LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Aug. 3l, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Patented Dee. 13, 193s 2,140,129

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DOOR LOCK FOR AUTOMOBILES Joseph Drzewiecki, Detroit, Mich.

Application August 31, 1936, Serial No. 98,659 s claims. (c1. 'io- 149) My invention relates to door locking mecha- Figure 8 is a sectional end view taken on line nism primarily intended for use in automobiles, 8 8 of Figure 11. and its principal object is to provide a door lock- Figure 9 is a horizontal section through the ing mechanism of the type in which, when the center of the main shaft illustrating the operay 6 door is locked, the handle is free to rotate withtion of the handle clutch means. 5 out operating the latch or releasing the door in Figure 10 is a section on line IIJ-I0 of Figure 9. any Way. The present construction provides Figure 11 is a section on line II-II of Figure means actuated through the lock for connecting 7 ShOWIlg the 10Wer red Which Operates the herithe handle with the latch mechanism and for dis- Zontal latch.

10 connecting the seme et the proper time, that is Figure 12 is a fragmentary View showing an 1o to say, when the door is looked and the key withalternative form 0f Sprintr for operating the drawn. latch mechanism.

Another object of my said invention is to pro- Figure 13 iS a fragmentary View CorrespondingV vide a device of the character referred to which t0 Figure 7 ShOWIlg Certain 0f the Darts in alter- 15 has combined with it means for operating the native positions. l5 lock from the inside of the venirne, Like characters designate corresponding parts Another object of my invention is to provide throughout the Several VeWS- an improved type of latch bolt combined with a Referring mere particularly to Figures 1 to 11,

Special form of dovetauopening in which tno inclusive, I designates the Wooden portion of an latch bolt engages and which is provided with automobile door which is partly enclosed in the 20 resilient cushioning means whereby the door may Sheet', me ta1 Coverings 2 accoldmg to the usual be closed quickly or even violently Without propractlce m rgard'to automobllf doors' 3 1s the ducing appreciable noise or damageto the door Wqoden pmtlon of a pmar havmg the steel COV' and its assooiated parts. ering which forms the abutment for the door.

A further object of my invention is to provide The pmar howeve?" may Sometimes be entiely 25 a door lock which is simple in construction and of metal Consiimctflop .accordmg tol/Ehe type of economical to manufacture, and which may be Vehlcle. for Whlch 1t 15.1ntended' 5 1s the latch' installed in various Ways to suit the style of ve- Operatlpg handle havmg Secured-to. or I ntegral mole to which it is applied and which may be theewlth a. hollow stem 6 and Withm uns. hail* dle 1s contained a tumbler mechanism 1 which, 1n 30 iitted to various types of doors Without excessive lcutting and weakening of the door and the co- A.acting pillar.

co-operation with the key 8, forms the conventional locking means by which the door is secured in a manner to be hereinafter explained. Vegl] tlere. nd. otlr QbJeCtS Hdl VIEW the m- The stem 6, rotatably mounted Within a bushing o S15 s 1n e lmIrOVe Constructln 9 secured to the door, is retained in position 35 a'rangememf and combmamon of parts Whlch endwise by means of the set screw I0 shown in vvill be heremafter fully described, reference be- Figure 6 which is mounted in a xed lng not mg had to the accompanying drawings which shown and engages in an annular-groove II in illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, in the Stem 3 concentric with the Stom 5 and So 40 Whleh draWingS- I l cured in the Wooden portion I of the door is a 40 Figure 1 1s a sectlonal plan View 0f the Cemhoiiow member l2. within which is siidabiy plete lock provided With a horizontally swinging mounted a bushing |3 having a, Closed end I4, late h t0 be'he'emaftel describedbetween which and the closed end I5 of the Figure 2 1S er1 end VleW 0f the Sememember I2 is a helical compression spring I6 Fleure 3 iS a Side elevation, the Outer plate bewhich is adapted to force thebushing I3 in the 45 me .Cut aWaY- direction of the stem 6. The bushing I3 is pro- Flgure 4 iS a Section On line 4 4 Of Figure 5 vided with a key-like projection II, shown more showing the cushioned latch socket, or keeper. particularly in Figures 5 and 7, which is rotat- Figure '5 iS e hOrZOrltal SeCtiOri threugh the ably mounted in a cavity IB in the member I2 Center 0f the main handleand is adapted, under certain conditions, to en- 50 Figure 6 is a section on line 6-6 of Figure 5. gage in a notch I9 in the inner end of the stem Figure 7 is a vertical section on line I--l of 6, so that rotation of the handle Will at that time Figure 5 ShOWrlg the OperatiOrl 0f 'the leekng cause corresponding rotation of the bushing I3 deVCeS 011 the mein Shaft With the horizontal Within the member I2.. Upon the inner face of siiy latch. the wooden portion I of the door is mounted a 55 plate 20 to which is secured a box-like structure l and between the members 2E! and 2l is a collar 22 which ts closely around the bushing I3 and has a key-way which engages with the pro- ;Eection I1 of the bushing, as shown more particularly in Figure '7, so that rotation of the bushing will cause corresponding rotation of the collar and vice versa. Upon the collar 22 is a tongue 23 with which engages one end o a rod 24 for which purpose the rod'has a U-shaped portion 25, shown clearly in Figure 11, which partly surrounds the tongue, as will be understood. The rod 24 has also an arcuate portion 26 by which it operates the latch bolt. The latch bolt, designated 21, and-shown inmore complete detail in Figure ll, is formed from sheet metal and provided with an angular abutment 28 which, when the door is locked, engages a corresponding abutment 29 in the socket 36 of'the keeper, the latter being secured within Vthe pillar 3 in the well known manner. The latch bolt 21 is supported in a housing 3| pressed up from sheet steel and of wedge-like shape in end View, as shownin Figure 8, and having a rounded end 32, the socket 3B being of similar shape so that when the door is closed the housing 3I ts snugly within the socket. The latch bolt 21 is pivoted at 33 to the housing and is normally urged outwards so as to engage the socket 30 by means of thecoil spring 34, one end of which engages the inner surface of the housing while the other presses against the inner face of the hollow latch bolt member. The latch bolt is also provided with a ilanged portion35 in whiohis a circular opening 36. In this opening engages the end of the arcuate portion 26 of the rod 24, so that longitudinal movement of the rod in the direction indicated by the arrow 31in Figure 1l vwill cause the latch bolt to be retracted from its socket, against the action of the spring 34, thus allowing the door to open.

Projecting from the inner face of the door is an auxiliary handle 38 secured by screw 39 to a short shaft 4!) rotatably mounted ina bushing 4I secured in the member I, and upon the reduced end 42 of the shaft is secured a lever arm out acting upon the rod 24, providing a leeway fora purpose which will be hereinafter explained.-

.In Figures 5 and 6 the bushing I3 is shown in such position that the projection I1 is disengaged from the slot I9 in the stem 6 of the handie, so that rotation of the handle 5 Ywill not produce any movement of the latch bolt, but at this time the latch bolt may be operated by the auxiliary handle 38 asabove explained. When, however, the bushing is moved into the position shown in Figures 9 and l0, bringing the projection I1 into engagement with the slot I9, movement ofthe handle 5 in one direction will cause rotation of the bushing and, through the tongue 23 of the collar 22, will cause longitudinal movement of the rod 24 in the direction of the arrow 31 in Figure l1, so as to retract the latch bolt in the manner above explained.

Disengagement of the projection I1 from the notch I9 so as to allow the handle 5 to rotate freely without acting upon the latch mechanism may be effected in two ways, in one case from the inside of the door and in the other case from the outside.

Disengagement from the outside is effected by means of the key 8 rotating the barrel 1I of the tumbler vmechanism 1. This barrel carries an eccentric pin 12 which, -when the barrel is rotated, impinges upon the end of a at bar 6I which extends through the center of the stem 6 and makes contact with the end of the bushing I3, moving it, against the action of the spring I6,

Y into the position shown in Figures 5 and 6. 'I'he Y bar 6| may be guided by any suitable means such as the pins-62. .In order to retain the bushing I3 in this position, there is provided a spring pawl 41, shown more clearly in Figures "I and 10, one end of which is xed in a stud 48 upon the plate 20 while the other end engages in a notch 49 in the upper face of the bushing. It will be observed that, due to the fact that the pawl` is located in the same plane as the collar 22, it is necessary to cut away the collar so as to allow the pawl to reach the notch 49, and when the pawl is resting in the notch it also rests against the marginal edges 5) of the cut-away portion, this condition being shown in Figure 7, from which gure it will be observed that rotation of the collar around the bushing will cause the end of the pawl 41 to be lifted out of engagement with its co-acting notch, as shown in Figure 13. It will be observed also that rotation of the collar may be effected by pulling upon the rod 24 which engages the tongue 23 and in this manner the proper manipulation of the auxiliary handle 38 will cause release ofthe bushing and permit the projection I1 to re-engage the notch I9 under the action of the spring I6, provided that the eccentric pin .12 is turned to a position diametrically opposedrto that in which it is shown in Figure 5. v

Disengagement of the handle from the inside of the door is effected by proper manipulation of the auxiliary handle 38 through the rod 5I, one end of which engages in the slot 44 of the member 43 while the other end terminates in a pin 52 engaging the lever 53 pivoted at 54 to the member I2, the arrangement being shown more clearly in Figures 5 and 9. The lever 53 is provided with a tongue 55 which engages in a notch 56 in the bushing I3 so that movement of the rod 5I in the direction indicated by the arrow 55', Figure 5, will cause the lever 53 to be moved in such manner that the bushing I3 will be retracted against the action of the spring I6, disconnecting it from the handle as above explained.

It should be here explained that, due to the fact that the rods 24 and '5I are connected to the lever arm 43 through slots 45 and 44, respectively, movement of the said arm may cause the rod 24 to be pulled in the direction of the arrow 31 in Figure ll, so as to release the latch bolt, without effecting any movement of the rod 5I, while movement of the arm in order to push upon the rod 5 I, causing it to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow 56' in Figure 5 and withdraw the bushing I3 from engagement with the handle, may be effected without causing any movement of the rod 24. The lengths of the slots 44 and 45 and the proportions of the other elements of the mechanism are so arranged that movement of the auxiliary handle 38 through its full travel will cause disengagement of the pawl 4l and also withdrawal of the latch bolt 21, but by moving the said handle through a portion only of its travel the pawl may be disengaged without withdrawing the latch bolt, thus permitting engagement of the bushing i3 with the main handle to permit operation of the latch bolt froml the outside. Due to this arrangement of the slots, also, the door may be closed by pushing upon it from the outside, causing the latch bolt 2l' to be rst pushed inwards and then allowed to move outwards under the action o1" its spring to engage the socket 36, this being effected without damage to the mechanism since at this time the end 46 of the rod 24 moves freely in the s1ot L15. The rod 24 is provided with a helical compression spring El, one end of which presses against the U-shaped portion 25 on the rod, while the other end re-acts against the inner face of the box-like structure 2l. In some cases a spiral spring 58 may be substituted as shown in Figure l2, the said spring engaging a collar 59 upon the rod.

The mechanism above described is so adjusted that, while operation of the member I3 through the inside handle 38 will cause the pawl 4l to engage it and hold it in disconnected position, yet operation of the said member by turning of the key of the tumbler in the outside handle will not permit the pawl il to engage, since the longitudinal movement of the member i3 will be less 1n this case. If, however, the member I3 is disengaged by the inside handle and the occupants then leave the car, slamming of the door will push the latch bolt inwards and rock the collar 22 into the position shown in Figure 13, lifting the pawl 47 out oi engagement and allowing the member i3 to be moved outwards by its spring I6 ready for the outside locking operation.

In the embodiment of my invention herein shown I employ a special cushioning device for preventing undue impact between the latch housings and the latch sockets and to avoid rattling of the parts When in transit. This device, shown in Figure 4, consists essentially of a plate 63 which ts loosely within a slot in the housing 3U, the said plate being backed by a cushion of rubber or other resilient material 54 occupying a cavity 65 in the wood lling 3 of the pillar 6.

While I have herein described and shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the same may be modified to suit any particular requirement without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A door latch mechanism comprising a housing, a latch bolt pivoted in said housing and adapted to engage a co-acting keeper socket, a collar rotatably mounted in said housing, a tongue upon said collar, a. rod coupling said tongue and said latch bolt in co-operative relation, a handle having a hollow stem arranged co-axially with said collar, a notch in said stem, a bushing rotatively connected to said collar and slidable longitudinally therein, a projection upon said bushing adapted to engage said notch, and resilient means normally urging said projection into engaged position.

2. A door latch mechanism comprising a housing, a latch bolt pivoted in said housing and adapted to engage a co-acting keeper socket, a collar rotatably mounted in said housing, a tongue upon said collar, a rod coupling said tongue and said latch bolt in co-operative relation, a handle having a hollow stem arranged co-axially with saidl collar, a notch in said stem, a bushing rotatively connected to said collar and slidable longitudinally therein, a projection upon said bushing adapted to engage said notch, resilient means normally urging said projection into engaged position, and lock-controlled means within said handle for holding said projection out of engagement.

3. A door latch mechanism comprising a housing, a latch bolt pivoted in said housing and adapted to engage a co-acting keeper socket, a collar rotatably mounted in said housing, a

tongue upon said collar, a rod coupling said tongue and said latch bolt in co-operative relation, a handle having a hollow stem arranged co-aXially with said collar, a notch in said stem, a bushing rotatively connected to said collar and slidable longitudinally therein, a projection upon said bushing adapted to engage said notch, resilient means normally urging said projection into engaged position, and lock-controlled means within said handle for holding said projection out of engagement, said means comprising a bar slidable axially within said stem and in alignment with said bushing, a tumbler mechanism rotatable within said handle at right angles to said stem and having eccentric means adapted to impinge upon said bar and force said sleeve into disengaged position.

JOSEPH DRZEWIECKI. 

